SDO First Light Movies and Images (April 23, 2010)

The Solar Dynamics Observatory has just released spectacularly detailed images and movies of the Sun (Apr.
21, 2010) as it has never been seen before. A close-up of a flowing prominence eruption in extreme UV light
reveals an unprecedented level of detail, even after being zoomed in from SDO's super-HD, full disk frames
(4096 x 4096 pixels). And with a frame rate of an image every 10 seconds in each of 10 wavelengths, SDO
will capture details of motion that scientists could only dream about just five years ago.

SDO was launched on Feb. 9, 2010. Since then it has been maneuvered into its geosynchronous orbit (about
22,000 miles above Earth), opened its telescope doors, and has been busy testing out all of its instruments.
While some testing is still going on, the SDO team was ready to give the world a peak at what they have been
able to see so far. To see a lot more, go to www.nasa.gov/sdo.

SOHO began its Weekly Pick some time after
sending a weekly image or video clip to the American Museum of Natural
History (Rose Center) in New York City. There, the SOHO Weekly Pick is
displayed with some annotations on a large plasma display.

If your institution would also like to receive the same Weekly Pick from us
for display (usually in Photoshop or QuickTime format), please send
your inquiry to steele.hill@gsfc.nasa.gov.